Interlagos 23 November – Like all sessions so far, qualifying was also rain affected, with the showers coming at various intensities throughout the afternoon, making for difficult strategic and technical choices for everyone. Fernando Alonso ended up third for Scuderia Ferrari with team-mate Felipe Massa ninth to give him a fifth row start in his home race tomorrow.
In Q1, everyone went out immediately in case the rain got heavier, as indeed it did. On Intermediates, Massa and Alonso were thirteenth and ninth respectively. When the rain got heavier after 8 minutes the F138s returned to the pits. Alonso then did 6 laps with a best of 1.26.656, while Massa did 4 with a best of 1.26.817.
Again, once the light went green for Q2, all 16 cars took to the track and with five minutes remaining the Ferrari duo fitted a new set of intermediates for the final run. Alonso was third in 1.26.590 and Massa was sevnth with a 1.27.049.
Q3 was delayed by 40 minutes because the rain was so heavy. At the light, everyone went out on the full wet tyres, but after 3 laps, the conditions improved enough for Alonso and Massa to switch to the intermediates and with these, Alonso set the third best time of 1.27.539, while Massa was ninth in 1.28.109. Pole went to Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull with a lap of 1.26.479.